Iceland in October 2025: Weather and Travel Tips

In October, Iceland is cold. It is the month with the highest rainfall/snowfall, which, in general, is moderate, though the east coast gets high or very high rainfall/snowfall. October is good for seeing auroras, with moderate tourism and prices.

Iceland Weather in October: Overview

Averages:

• Temperature range: 3–7°C (37–45°F)
• Total rain/snow: 15 cm (6 inches)
• Days with rain/snow: 14
• Humidity: 78%
• Sunshine hours/day: 3 hours

October Climate Comparison (Averages) for Iceland's Top Tourism Areas

Temperatures generally stay above freezing in October at the low altitudes. Iceland is in its rainy season, but the weather still would allow you to see auroras and snowy subarctic landscapes. The sun sets about 6 p.m.

Southern Iceland: Reykjavík and the southern coast experience an average of about 10 hours of daylight. At low elevations, the average high is about 8°C (46°F), and the low is 3°C (37°F).

Northern Iceland: Akureyri and other northern tourist towns are very close to the Arctic Circle. The Húsavík area receives about 9½ hours of daylight on average. October is a good time for seeing auroras.

The Best Places to Visit in Iceland in October

In October, all of Iceland gets about 9 hours of dark night. Akureyri is better for seeing auroras. In October, we recommend staying in the cozy capital, Reykjavík, and in Höfn and going out for excursions to see nature and northern lights.

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1. Reykjavík — Visit the Highlights of Culture, Nature, and Volcanoes

Reykjavík is an unusually interesting small capital city that is surrounded by natural highlights. In October, you can enjoy being there with moderate prices and tourism. The weather starts to get gloomy with only about 3 hours of sunshine daily on average.

In August/September of 2024, a volcano erupted close to Keflavík International Airport. If you are fortunate, you might see an active volcano. Another eruption is expected in 2024, perhaps in November or December, because much magma is accumulating underground. You might also want to visit recently active volcanoes nearby.

Reykjavík has cold weather in October. The average daily high is 8°C (46°F). The low is 3°C (37°F). There is an average of 78% humidity and moderate rainfall. The water temperature in the Blue Lagoon is 37–39°C (99–102°F). The National Museum or Laugavegur Street are highlights on inclement days.

2. Höfn — Experience Solitude on a Glacier and Seashores

In the east of Iceland, you can get further away from most tourists and see a wilder area with Iceland's large Vatnajökull Glacier, fjords, and fishing villages. Höfn is a cozy tourist town with springs, excellent seafood restaurants, hotels and guesthouses.

Before the roads freeze in November, you might want to travel in rugged 4-wheel drive vehicles and hike before the snow covers the paths. You might have glacier paths and valleys all to yourselves. The average daily high is 7°C (45°F), the low is 2°C (36°F), and the rainfall/snowfall is high.

3. The Golden Circle — Visit the Highlights near Reykjavík

October is a good month for road trips from Reykjavík because tourism is moderate. You can see the last of the fall colors and enjoy enough daylight for sightseeing before the gloomy darkness of winter. People follow the roads out to the main highlights and back.

A typical road trip covers 230 kilometers (140 miles) and includes Thingvellir National Park, Geysir, and Gullfoss Waterfall. The whole trip could be 5 hours long or more. Along the highway near Selfoss is Kerið Crater. It has red and orange rocks and a blue lake.

Selfoss is a town of about 9,000 residents near the southern coast, which you may want to stay a night at. There are many hotels.

4. Akureyri — See the Auroral Highlights and the Natural Highlights of the Far North

October is a good time to see auroras in Akureyri since the skies are clearer than in the rest of the country. Akureyri has low rainfall. The average daily high is 7°C (45°F) and the low is 4°C (39°F). There are daily about two hours of twilight during which you might see beautiful sky colors.

During daylight hours, you can go out to see whales and sealife, hike, and visit the natural wonders. Akureyri is known for its whale-watching tours. Sometimes, the aurora belt contracts and concentrates over Akureyri.

You can see the last of the autumn colors when you go out to see the area's highlights, such as Stuðlagil Canyon with epic geometric rock formations and Goðafoss Waterfall. Ásbyrgi Canyon is east of Húsavík and has one of Iceland's few woods.

Moderate Tourism Season: Touring Advice for October

October is in a moderate tourism season. The increasing darkness and cold weather keeps the heavy tourist crowds away. The temperatures during the day are above freezing, so you can tour and see the highlights more comfortably.

Moderate prices and crowds: In October, Iceland becomes more peaceful. You can see the sights with less tourism and have more solitude in the pristine wilderness. Prices for accommodations might be almost 50% lower in October than during the high tourism months of July and August.

Flights to Iceland in October are relatively inexpensive even during holidays since Iceland isn't a common tourist destination in October.

Aurora watching: The best place to see auroras in Iceland is in the far north near Akureyri because there is less light pollution, and there is low rainfall too. Most of Iceland has much more rainfall. The warmer temperatures make October one of the better months for watching auroras.

More auroras? If you want more darkness and a better chance to see auroras in October, you could go further north to Longyearbyen, Norway. That area has 5 or 6 hours of daylight on average, and the daylight declines quickly to 0 by October 26. For more about this far northern town, see Norway Weather in October.

There are no public holidays in October.

What to Wear in October

The weather in Iceland in October is changeable, so be prepared. The sun rises about 9 a.m., and you might feel that the skies are gloomy. It sometimes snows.

You'll need to bring a heavy coat in October for the cold nights and going to mountains and glaciers. It is good to layer up.

Iceland's weather in October is changeable. The rain is heavy in some places. Keep an eye on the weather reports. The northern and southwestern coasts are drier than the eastern and Westfjords coasts.

Bring swimwear suitable for the geothermal pools, hot springs, and heated pools.

Here is a packing list for a few essentials in Iceland:

• Warm waterproof boots with good traction for the outdoors. You might wear them in-flight to travel lightly.
• Comfortable shoes with good traction
• Rain gear
• Coat and warm hat
• Cardigans or thermals
• Gloves
• Swimwear for hot springs and spas
• Polarized glasses for the glare

Monthly Weather and Travel Information for Iceland

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